The Best Slow Cookers on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

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Here at the Strategist, we like to think of ourselves as crazy (in the good way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed (that’s four-to-five-star reviews and lots of ‘em) products and single out the most convincing. While we’ve written about toaster ovens, the best pots and pans for every meal, and an idiotproof pressure cooker before, we’ve gone deep here on the best slow cookers you can find on Amazon. (Note that reviews have been edited for length and clarity.)

The best programmable slow cooker

Hamilton Beach 33473 Programmable Slow Cooker, 7-Quart

4.4 stars, 788 reviews

“I purchased this slow cooker when my wife and I decided to eat healthier and easier. The slow cooker we already had still works, but we both work long hours, so we needed something that would shut off after a certain amount of time, to avoid ruined dinners. When we received this, we were very excited to try it. It works like a dream! You can set the temperature to high, low, or warm, and the timer to two, four, six, eight, or ten hours. When the designated number of hours have passed, it will turn itself to Warm. The total hours it will run (including the Warm phase) is 14. We really appreciate these features, and we use this slow cooker on the days when we work. It has helped us tremendously in the time-management area!”

The best manual slow cooker

Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel

4.3 stars, 1,101 reviews

“I used this to make an easy chicken recipe, and even though the settings are very basic, it worked extremely well. The chicken cooked evenly and just fell apart. It feels sturdy and well-made, plus it’s easy to clean. You really can’t go wrong for this price, and its size is really impressive. Seven quarts is more than you think if you are not familiar with your Crock-Pots. I highly recommend if you are looking for an inexpensive, but quality Crock-Pot.”

The best programmable and portable slow cooker

“This is my third Crock-Pot and by far my absolute favorite. I love the fact that it has a timer, and one of the main reasons I purchased this particular Crock-Pot. It sets by the half-hour, which I know some people complained about, but has not been an issue for me. Once the timer hits zero, it automatically switches to the warm setting. We have a lot of potlucks at work, and the locking lid is great for transporting food from the house to work. Between the removable bowl from the actual crock pot, the locking lid feature, and the timer, you can’t go wrong. I have been using this on a pretty consistent basis for eight months and still love it.”

The best manual slow cooker to bring to potlucks

Hamilton Beach 33461 Stay or Go 6-Quart Portable Slow Cooker

4.4 stars, 1,062 reviews

“This is a simple, but well-thought-out slow cooker. There’s no digital panel to program cooking times, but that can be a plus to reliability over the long term. The lid latch opens easily and conveniently lays back for easy access to the contents without needing to be removed. Perhaps the best feature, aside from the very nice six-quart black stoneware insert and securely locking lid, is the addition of folding handles. Being a large-bodied cooker in general, it is very nice to have handles that conveniently fold out of the way to help free up valuable cupboard space and maximize room on the table when the cooker is used as a serving dish.”

The best slow cooker with a thermometer probe

“This thing is amazing! I pre-make my weekly meals, set the slow cooker in the morning, and voilà! Dinner is ready by the time I come back from work. It couldn’t be any easier. I love its large size and the flexibility it gives for traveling with it. The thermometer is also a nice addition when cooking large pieces of meat.”

The best slow cooker for single people

Proctor Silex 33116Y Portable Oval Slow Cooker, 1.5-Quart

4.5 stars, 574 reviews

“Since I am usually cooking just for myself, filling up my large Crock-Pot was taking me so long to empty it. This slow cooker is just right. At the most, I get two to three servings of food, not a minimum of a week’s supply, when I burn out and finally just throw the food away, or have to package and freeze. This makes a much cleaner cooking process for me!”

The best slow cooker for casseroles

Crock-Pot 3.5-Quart Casserole Crock Manual Slow Cooker

4.5 stars, 818 reviews

“This Crock-Pot is perfect for casseroles as well as anything that typically cooks in a shallow baking dish. The added benefit is that it is perfect for taking to potlucks or to a family function where you have been asked to bring a hot dish. I took it to a work function, and there were many co-workers with ‘Crock-Pot envy’ at my stylish casserole dish. Great for enchiladas, lasagna, pasta bakes, and chicken breasts. Highly recommend!”

The best slow cooker–pressure cooker combo

“I use the pressure-cook and slow-cook options regularly! I use the pressure-cook function to make flan, meat, and beans. The slow cooker is fantastic for busy working families especially. No one feels like cooking when we get home from work, so I prep meals the night before, toss it in the Instant Pot in the morning before going to work, and leave it slow-cooking throughout the day. The timer is great, because I can customize cooking times exactly how I want them. The sauté feature is a huge bonus. A lot of slow-cooker recipes require that you brown the meat first. It really saves the mess and hassle of browning it on the stove, and then transferring it over to the slow cooker. I simply use the sauté feature to brown whatever I need, then turn it off, switch to slow-cook mode, cover, and walk away. It’s the best feeling to get home from work in the evening and have a home-cooked meal ready to go!”